No More Automatic Extension: Here's the Schedule for Expired Driver's License Renewal
As LTO gets a fresh supply of plastic cards.
(SPOT.ph) Remember when the Land Transportation Office (LTO) said that expired driver’s licenses from April 3, 2023 onwards are automatically renewed until April 1, 2024—at least until the plastic card shortage has been addressed? Well, plastic cards have arrived so it’s time for motorists with expired driver's licenses to renew theirs in the coming months.
The LTO released a new memorandum on October 5 the schedule of renewal for expired driver’s licenses from April to September 2023. Motorists are advised to keep in mind and follow the given schedule.
“Failure of the driver to renew his/her driver’s license beyond the prescribed schedule shall render the license expired,” LTO said in the memo.
In August, Quezon City court imposed a 20-day restraining order (TRO) against the delivery of plastic cards following concerns raised by a losing bidder in the procurement process. This ended on September 6, with the bulk printing of plastic cards to continue this month as per the LTO's earlier memo on October 3.
Also read: You Can Now Renew Your Driver's License or Register Your Car Online
Schedule to renew expired driver’s licenses
Below is the month of expired driver’s license and the schedule of renewal:
- April – October 6 to 31, 2023
- May – November 1 to 30, 2023
- June – December 1 to 31, 2023
- July – January 1 to 31, 2024
- August – February 1 to 29, 2024
- September – March 1 to 31, 2024
The reason for this schedule is to "avoid congestion in LTO offices," according to LTO Chief Assistant Secretary Atty. Vigor Mendoza. He said that it will only take around 15 minutes to renew the license.
Those who have already renewed licenses with a paper version will have to present the payment receipt to any LTO office to get a plastic card version.
Since April, the LTO has been issuing paper licenses to cope with the plastic card shortage with over 1.7 million backlogs. Because of this, the validity of driver’s licenses was previously extended to October 2023, then to April 2024.
Also read: GUIDE: Everything You Need to Know About LTO’s Electronic Driver’s Licenses